Platini: FIFA will lack credibility if Blatter remains president

With the FIFA presidential elections on the horizon, Michel Platini has questioned Sepp Blatter's reasons for standing for re-election.

Published

25 May 2015

FIFA will lack credibility as long as Sepp Blatter remains president, according to Michel Platini.

Blatter is seeking to extend his 17-year stay as FIFA chief by winning a fifth term in office in the upcoming presidential elections.

FIFA has faced intense scrutiny in recent times, particularly over claims of corruption relating to the bidding process into the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, while the organisation has been urged to do more to improve human rights conditions in 2022 host-nation Qatar.

UEFA president Platini insists he has no personal issue with Blatter, but stated that FIFA is in need of change to improve its image.

"I have nothing against Sepp. I like him as a person and I respect him. We have had some good times together, and nothing and no one can take that away," he said in an interview with L'Equipe.

"[But] he does not have to lie. We all know that it [standing for re-election] is not because he has not finished his mission or because he still has big plans for FIFA.

"After 40 years at the head of an institution that speech cannot be credible. No, he is simply afraid of tomorrow because he has dedicated his life to FIFA, so much so that he identifies with it completely.

"I understand the fear of that emptiness that he must have, it's natural. But if he really loves FIFA he should have put its interests ahead of his own.

"And while he remains in place, whether he likes it or not, FIFA will lack credibility and its image will be tarnished."